Green Building Policies and Incentives

(1-4 points)

Intent

To encourage the design, construction, and retrofit of buildings using green building practices.

Requirements

Option 1. Buildings owned and/or operated by the local government or development authority (1-2 points Cities, 1-3 points Communities)

• Existing Buildings: Register and certify existing buildings above 5000 square feet (465 square meter) that are owned and/or operated by the local government or development authority to LEED, EDGE or an equivalent green building rating system. The green building rating system must address energy, water, waste, transportation and ecological aspects of the city. Points are awarded as per table below.
Table 1 Points for green buildings

Percentage of buildings registered or certified to LEED or equivalent green building rating system	Cities	Communities
25 to 50%	1	1
50 to 75%	2	2
Above 75%	-	3

 AND

• New Buildings: Adopt policy for all new construction undertaken by the city government or community local authority to achieve LEED or an equivalent green building certification.
AND/OR 

Option 2. Green Building Policy and Incentives (2 points Cities)

Provide a minimum of two incentives for LEED or an equivalent green building rating system in the city.

• Structural Incentives: Provide expedited review or permitting processes to buildings achieving certification.
• Structural Incentives: Provide density or height bonus allowing for percentage increases in Floor Area Ratio or other measures of density contingent upon certification.
• Financial Incentives: Provide tax credits for buildings achieving certification.
• Financial Incentives: Provide permitting fee reduction or waivers for buildings achieving certification.

AND / OR 

Option 3. Building Performance Disclosure (1-2 points)

• Buildings owned and/or operated by the local government or development authority. (1 point)
  • Collect the annual energy data of jurisdictionally-owned or operated buildings. Track, benchmark, and report the data using tools such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, Arc Skoru, or a locally developed and recognized tool to help with data organization for on-going performance reporting.
  • Include a minimum of 50% of the buildings owned or operated by the jurisdiction or the community that are 5,000 square feet (465 square meters) or greater. The data year reported must be from within the most recent 3-year period.

AND/OR

• Privately owned buildings (1 point)
  • Adopt a program that requires disclosure of energy data from privately owned buildings in the jurisdiction. Disclosure may be to the public, the governing entity, and/or specific users of the building, such as tenants, prospective tenants, potential buyers, or potential lenders.
  • At a minimum, all privately owned nonresidential or multi-family buildings with a gross area of more than 20,000 square feet (1858 square meters), excluding parking, must be included. The data year reported for active programs must be from within the most recent 3-year period.
  • The program must include (i) a legally-enforceable policy or ordinance approved by the local governing body and (ii) a mechanism for reporting, a platform for disclosing individual or aggregated data, such as ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, Arc Skoru, or a locally developed and recognized tool, and an annual program report.
  • Provide the timeline for roll out and implementation within the next 3 years.

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